Chapter 270 - Slapped (1/2)

Chapter 270 SlappedThe movie’s plot revolved around the romantic affairs and power struggles inside a royal palace during ancient China. Dressed in a purple palace gown, Tang Yue stood in front of Wan Qingsi with a beautiful and vibrant smile on her face. Tang Yue’s smile wavered the moment she noticed Mei Jing’s presence.

“Ah! We’ve been wondering who it was that had snatched the second lead role from Tian Yiyi. So it was you, Mei Jing!” The moment Tang Yue’s words were out, everyone turned their eyes to Ah Sha, including Tian Yiyi, who was outright shooting daggers at Ah Sha through her eyes.

Ah Sha arched her brows. “So, nobody knew about the cast change,” she thought. “Why, though?” Ah Sha’s eyes moved past Wan Qingsi without really looking at him. She might have imagined it, but she thought she detected a look of adoration in his eyes for a moment there.

She rubbed her eyes. “I must be seeing things now,” she thought. When she looked again, Wan Qingsi still had that same icy look on his face.

“You’re still planning to seduce the boss?” Tian Yiyi rushed over. “Don’t think for a second that I don’t know how you managed to pull this off. You slept with men just…”

“Shut your trap!” A cold voice rang out.

Other than Ah Sha, everyone else there shuddered. There was an air of lethality and ruthlessness about Wan Qingsi right now. Beside him, Tang Yue’s hands were pressed against her chest as she stared at the man beside her in disbelief. As far as she could tell, he would only get so worked up when things involved that girl.

“The company has the final say on the casting. It’s swarming with reporters outside, so you better watch your mouth,” Wan Qingsi said, casting an icy look at Tian Yiyi. “You know better than anyone else how you got the role in the first place. If you’re not happy with the role you’re assigned to, just quit.”

When he finished his rant, Wan Qingsi did not even look at Mei Jing before he stormed away from the movie set. Tian Yiyi looked utterly disoriented when her assistant dragged her away. Tang Yue merely sighed in relief. “So it was because of the movie,” she thought. “That was why he got so mad.”

An opening ceremony— a religious ceremony involving the uncovering of the video camera used for the filming as well as the burning of incense— was held, after which the shooting of the first scene began. Mei Jing sat on the sidelines, watching the first encounter between Tang Yue’s character and the emperor. The actor who played the emperor was a distinguished one; he was the award-winning actor, Chu Yi.

As the filming went on, Ah Sha’s thoughts drifted away, back to her time in Caesar two years ago.

Back then, everyone at the academy knew who the student council president was: the ethereal and unapproachable boy who was lodging at the home of the academy’s Chairwoman. All the girls crushed on him while the boys turned up their noses at him.

But because Tang Yue was the vice president of the student council, she had the chance to interact with Xunxun. Tang Yue’s family ran an advertising firm, a small and ordinary company, in fact. Even so, her popularity within the academy had always been very high. If Ah Sha had not accidentally stumbled upon a video that involved Tang Yue and three other men in bed, she would really have believed that Tang Yue’s character was exactly like what her physical appearance showed— transcendentally pure and innocent.

Needless to say, those rich second generations in the academy were interested in Tang Yue. For Ah Sha, it was the opposite; her status as the daughter of the academy’s Chairwoman pretty much ensured that nobody harassed her. There were one or two arrogant ones who tried their luck on that front, though they were never seen in the academy again the next day.

Eventually, everyone in Caesar came to the realization that Ah Sha was untouchable. Well, everyone except the man who hung out with her everyday, Wan Qingsi.

“Brother Xunxun, why did that boy suddenly withdraw from school? I mean the one who wanted to treat me to lunch yesterday, the son of a minister or something.”

“There’s been a death in his family,” Xunxun had answered her. “He went back to handle the funeral.”

That was how Xunxun would always answer her questions whenever she asked him about a student’s mysterious “disappearance”. Later on, Ah Sha grew up and began to understand the truth behind those disappearances. She found it highly amusing, though. Her Brother Xunxun was just like how he had always been, brutal and ruthless!

One time, Tang Yue employed a series of schemes to mess with Ah Sha. Xunxun figured it out and kicked Tang Yue into the lake right in front of everyone. After that, Tang Yue was expelled, but for some reason, she returned to the academy a few days later.

Ah Sha had been leaning against Xunxun’s chest back then when she asked him about it. “That’s too small of a price for her to pay. It’s not unforgettable enough,” Xunxun had answered.

She did not understand what he had meant back then. But…

Ah Sha failed to contain the laugh which burst through the seams of her lips. Now she finally understood.

A voice pulled Ah Sha out of her musing. “Miss Mei!” Ah Sha raised her head and saw a petite-looking woman standing beside her. The woman was staring up at Ah Sha with a look of pleasant surprise.

“Um, sorry, but you are..?”

“I’m Xiao Hua!” Said the petite woman. The woman’s eyes had practically sparkled the moment she heard Ah Sha speaking to her. “I’m the assistant that the company had assigned for you. From now on, I’m in charge of protec…” The woman trailed off before correcting herself. “Looking after you!”

Ah Sha appraised Xiao Hua for a long time. “Have we met somewhere before?” “Why did she look so familiar?” Ah Sha wondered.

“That’s impossible. I… I mean, I just got employed by Stars Entertainment.” The girl touched her own face. “Blame my common face, then. Haha, haha!”

“Then, I shall be in your care from now on.” Ah Sha smiled. Happy with Ah Sha’s response, Xiao Hua handed Ah Sha a cup of ice coffee. “Here you go!”

Ah Sha took the drink and nodded at Xiao Hua. Then, Ah Sha turned her eyes towards Tang Yue who was walking gracefully towards the side to take a break from the filming. Ah Sha lowered her head and pressed her lips together in a smile.

Half a month later, Ah Sha’s character shared a scene with the male lead for the first time. At this point in the movie, Tang Yue’s character was pregnant, so Ah Sha’s character— the servant girl of Tang Yue’s character— had to please the emperor on behalf of her mistress. During the scene, Ah Sha’s character hid herself under the emperor’s bed. After that, some flirty remarks were exchanged between her and the emperor. Then, the emperor was suddenly lying on top of her, and then… the scene went dark.

“Cut!!” Lin Dong yelled. “Not bad! Next up will be the sex scene. Take five. After that, we’ll continue in five minutes.” Lin Dong watched the replay of the scene with a satisfied look on his face. He was very happy with this rookie who was playing the second female lead. Mei Jing was legitimately one of the most talented actresses he had seen in his entire career. Lin Dong would bet on his life that Mei Jing would be famous!

Besides, it seemed like the boss of Stars Entertainment was taking a special interest in her.

Ever since the start of the filming, Wan Qingsi had frequently dropped by the set just to hang out. Everyone just assumed that he was there to see Tang Yue, which resulted in the entire filming crew trying to suck up to Tang Yue. Yeah, right. As if Lin Dong would be fooled. It was impossible for Lin Dong not to notice the fact that the boss would only be around when Mei Jing had a scene to shoot.

It was not just Lin Dong, though. Being someone directly involved in the matter, Tang Yue herself knew it too. She knew that Wan Qingsi had not come to the set for her. She also knew better than anyone else how she had managed to secure her place in the movie’s cast. Wan Qingsi had zero interest in her, that much she knew. But it mattered not; it would be good enough as long as other people thought there was something between the two of them!

That was why when Wan Qingsi arrived on set today, Tang Yue approached him and started acting all sweet and coquettish, as if she was welcoming the arrival of her lover.

Wan Qingsi, on the other hand, just stood there, his face devoid of expression as he outright ignored her. Still, he did not chase her away or demanded her to stay away from him. To others, that, per se, was about as much face as Wan Qingsi was capable of giving to anyone. But just as everyone was wallowing in the feelings of envy they had towards Tang Yue, they heard a voice, “We’ll wrap up the set for today.”